TOEIC TIPS

TOEIC: Test of English for International Communication

Tip 1: Set a goal
If you are taking the test to apply for a job, find out what
score is needed. Some jobs require a minimum score of 600.
Management jobs may require a higher score, such as 800.
Choose a goal that you can achieve.

Tip 2: Understand the test
Make sure you understand the format of each section. By
practising tests, you will become very familiar with the
TOEIC. The test should become "second nature" to you before
you attempt the real thing.

Tip 3: Make a study plan
Procrastination is one of the key reasons students fail the
TOEIC. The day you decide to take the TOEIC should be the
day you start to study. Write down your study plan!

Tip 4: Divide study time appropriately
The TOEIC is divided into seven sections. Each section is
worth a certain amount of points. Don't spend too much time
studying one section. Many students make the mistake of
studying the section that they enjoy the most.

Tip 5: Build a strong vocabulary
Another reason students fail the TOEIC is that they have a
very limited vocabulary. Remember that the TOEIC has a
business theme. You should study vocabulary such as travel,
banking, health, restaurants, offices, etc.

Tip 6: Isolate your weak points
After you have been studying the TOEIC for a while, you will
find out which parts give you the most trouble. You might
want to change how you divide your time.

Tip 7: Eliminate distractors
Every TOEIC question has at least two distractors (wrong
answers to trick you). There are many types of distractor
such as, similar sounds, homonyms, repeated words etc. Make
a list of distractors so you recognize them more easily.

Tip 8:Trust your instincts 

Sometimes an answer will jump out at you as either correct or incorrect. If you have been studying hard, chances are that your brain is telling you which choice to pick. Don't change your answers after following your instinct. If you do decide to change an answer, make sure that you erase very carefully. A machine will be marking your test. Be sure to use a pencil and fill in your circle choice completely. Bring extra pencils, erasers, and a pencil sharpener! 

Tip 9: Don't try to translate 

Translating vocabulary and sentences wastes a lot of time. It is very rare that students have extra time during the TOEIC test. If you don't know a word, look at the context of the sentence and the words around it. You will not be allowed to use a dictionary when you take the test. 

Tip 10: Guess as a last resort

On test day, if you don't know the answer, and you have eliminated all of the distractors you can, don't leave the space blank. There is a good chance you will not have time to go back to this question. You still have a 25% chance of getting the answer right if you guess. If you are sure that one or two of the answers are incorrect, your guess is even more likely to be correct! 

Tip 11: Be aware of time management 

When you are doing practice tests, you should always be aware of the time. Never allow yourself an open ended study session. You will have to learn to work efficiently.

On test day, you should be especially careful in the Reading section. You will have 75 minutes to complete Parts V, VI and VII. Many students spend too long on section V or VI because they find these the most difficult. Don't spend more than 30 minutes on the first two parts. Part VII will take you at least 40 minutes, and it is worth a lot of points, especially if you find it an easier section. 

Tip 12: Listen quickly 

When you are studying for the TOEIC test, do not get in the habit of rewinding the tape. On test day you won't have any control over the speed of the listening section. You will not even have time to think for very long between questions. Make sure that you do not get behind during the real test. If you do not know the answer, take your best guess. Then continue to follow along. Don't look back at questions when you are waiting for another question to start. 

Tip 13: Practise reading aloud 

Reading out loud will help your listening and reading comprehension skills. In order to comprehend English more quickly, it is important that you understand the rhythm of the language. Read from textbooks, pamphlets, newspapers, and even children's novels. You might want to tape yourself and listen to how you sound. 

Tip 14: Use mass media 

One of the best ways to prepare for the TOEIC test is to study real English. Watch television, listen to radio reports, and read newspapers and magazines. Pay special attention to ads, letters, weather and traffic reports, coupons, and special announcements. Do this with a friend, and write out questions for each other to answer. This is a great way to practice your wh-questions. It is also a great way to learn common idiomatic expressions. 

Tip 15: Use free web sites 

There are many web sites that offer free model tests and samples. Type TOEIC into your search engine and start practising! Surfing the web is a great way to practise your reading and listening. If you are interested in a certain topic, such as snowboarding, type that into a search engine. You might want to reserve an hour a day for Internet studying. Just make sure to study English and don't get caught wasting hours playing games! 

Tip 16: Teach a native English speaker your language 

If you can't afford a tutor, you might know a native English speaker who would be interested in learning your first language. Tell him you will teach him for free for one hour a week! You will have to use English to teach him, and you will learn many new English words and expressions at each session. Forcing yourself to teach someone a language will help you to understand English grammatical rules as well. Do anything you can to speak with native English speakers. 

Tip 17: Keep an English journal 

Keeping a journal doesn't have to be an account of your daily activities. You can write anything in a journal, such as how your studying is coming along, what your new favourite word is and why, or which teacher you admire. If you are studying TOEIC with a friend, make a list of writing topics for each other. You might decide to write a paragraph three times a week. Get your friend to try to find your mistakes. Finding your partner's writing errors is great practice for Part V and VI. 

Tip 18: Ask questions 

Never hesitate to ask lots of questions. In a TOEIC class, all of the students will benefit from your question. If you don't understand something, such as conditionals, you may lose ten points on a TOEIC exam. A teacher is not always available, but students are everywhere! Sometimes other students can help you with a grammar problem even better than a teacher. 

Tip 19: Manage your stress 

If you are feeling stressed about taking the TOEIC you may be studying too hard or expecting too much of yourself. Like everything else in life, balance is the key. Remind yourself that you will try to do your best. Before the test, take deep breaths and remember that you can always improve your score in a few months time. In between the listening and reading section, take a few deep breaths again to get focused.  

Tip 20: Don't cram 

You should never cram (study extremely hard in a short period of time) the night or even week before the TOEIC test. There is so much to learn when you study the TOEIC. The last week should be for reviewing and practising rather than learning new things. Make sure to get plenty of sleep the night before the test. On the day of the test, have a good meal and relax for a few hours before going to the testing centre. Plan to reward yourself when the test is over!